Fireplace damper assembly



Aug. 3% W6 (3. w. ADELT FIREPLACE DAMPER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1965 INVENTOR. 40. 4.054 7 3.6mm 35mm w was C. W. ADELT 3,269,384

FIREPLACE DAMPER ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V 'rffj n n INVENTOR.

United States Patent 'ce 3,269,384 FIREPLAEE DAMPER ASSEMBLY Qarl W. Adelt, 450 River Road, Mays Landing, NJ. Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 433,879 4 Claims. (Cl. 126288) This invention relates to a fireplace damper assembly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace damper assembly which is easily insertable in place in the fireplace and which may be easily withdrawn for purposes of replacement or repair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace damper assembly which is self-cleaning, and which provides a positive damper control.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fireplace damper assembly which shows negligible wear and tear during long indefinite periods of use because it never comes into direct contact with fumes, soot, or extreme heat.

A still further object of the present invention is to pro- 1 vide a fireplace damper assembly which is extremely simple in structure, and highly efiicient in action.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention wil become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the fireplace damper unit according to the present invention with the valve in partially open position.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the fireplace damper unit of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the valve and the actuating means therefor of the fireplace damper unit of the present invention, the actuating means taking a different form from that illustrated in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a fireplace showing the complete damper assembly according to the present invention mounted therein.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 7 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally the fireplace damper unit according to the present invention, the unit comprising an elongated open frame 12 which has upstanding side members 14, and an upstanding end member 16 extending between and secured to the complemental rear ends of the side members 14. A ledge 18 is disposed inwardly of and extends along each of the side members 14, the ledges facing each other.

An apron 2t bridges the ledges 18 and extends from the cornplemental front ends of the side members 14 and terminates at a point spaced from the end member 16, the apron being secured to the side members 1 4. The apron 20 is of an inverted U-shaped configuration in cross-section and its sides 21 engage adjacent portions of the ledges 18 and are detachably secured to the side members 14 as by bolts, not shown, passing through cornplemental bolt holes 22 and 23 provided in the sides 21 and side members 14 respectively, as shown in FIGURE 5. If desired, the sides 21 can be attached to the side members 14 as by welding. A downwardly and outwardly-sloping lip 24 extends along and depends from the terminating point of the apron 20, the lower end of the lip being contiguous to and spaced from the ledges 18 and forming with the ledges a slot 26. A cross-piece 27 extends over and closes the end of the apron 20 opposite the lip 24 and is detachably 3,269,384 Patented August 30, 1966 secured, FIGURE 5, as by fastening elements 25 supported in apertures 29 provided in the cross-piece 27.

It is to be noted that the part of the frame 12 defined by the lip 24, the end member 16, and the adjacent portions of the ledges 18 form an opening 28 conforming to that of a flue in a fireplace.

A flat plate valve is mounted in the frame 12 for sliding movement along the ledges 1.8 between a position wholly concealed below the apron 20 and inwardly of the slot 26 and out of closing relation with respect to the opening 28 and a position projected out of the slot 26 and beyond the apron 20 and into closing relation with respect to the opening 28. Means is operatively connected to the plate valve 30 for moving the plate valve between the aforementioned positions. Specifically, this means embodies a backing 32 rising from the end of the plate valve 30 inwardly of the slot 26 and an actuating means which is operatively connected to the backing 32. The actuating means, FIGURE 5, comprises a lower pull cord which extends through a lower hole 41 provided in the cross-piece 27 and through a lower hole 42 provided in the backing 32 with the end knotted as at 43, and bearing against the inner face of the backing 32. The actuating means also includes an upper pull cord 44 which extends through an upper hole 45 provided in the cross-piece 27 and through an eye 46a and backward to and through an upper hole 46 provided in the backing 32 with the end knotted as at 47 and bearing against the outer face of the backing 32. Application of a pulling force applied to the ball 48 on the other end of the cord 40, results in movement of the plate valve 30 to the open position, and application of a pulling force applied to the ball 49 on the other end of the cord 44 results in movement of the plate valve 30 to the closed position.

The actuating means may take the construction as depicted in FIGURE 7. In this construction, a rigid elongated rod 50 extends through a hole 51 provided in the cross-piece 27a and through a hole 52 provided in the backing 3211, with a nut 56 in threaded engagement with the portion adjacent one end and bearing against the inner face of the cross-piece 27a and a nut 54 in threaded engagement with the said one end portion and bearing against the inner face of the backing 32a of the plate valve 30a. Application of a pulling force applied to the handle 55 on the other end of the rod 50, results in movement of the plate valve 30a to open position, and application of a pushing force applied to the handle 55, results in movement of the plate valve 30a to the closed position.

The fireplace damper assembly according to the present invention comprises the above-described fireplace damper unit 10 and a sleeve 60, FIGURES 1 and 5. The sleeve 6G is of a configuration and size to embracingly receive for insertion therethrough and for withdrawal therefrom the fireplace damper unit 10, and is mountable in the front wall of a fireplace so that it opens out of the aforesaid wall.

In use, the sleeve FIGURE 8, is disposed horizontally and fixedly mounted in and opens out of a front wall 61 of a fireplace 62, the fireplace having a hearth 63 from which the front wall 61 rises, and a flue 64 is behind the front wall 61 and is in communication with the hearth 63 and a chimney, not shown. The sleeve 60 is of a configuration and size to freely receive for insertion therethrough and for withdrawal therefrom the fireplace damper unit 10. The fireplace damper unit 10 is inserted into the sleeve 60 and is positioned in the fireplace 62 as as to extend transversely across the fiue 64 with the end member 16 abutting against the wall of the flue. With the damper unit 10 thus positioned, the cross-piece 27 is substantially flush with the front face of the front wall 61 of the fireplace 6 2, and the cords 40 and 44 or :rod 50 are exteriorly of the cross-piece 27.

A glance of a viewer at the front of the cross-piece 27 indicates from the position of the cords 4t] and 44 or rod 50 whether the plate valve 30 or 30a is in open, partially open, or closed position. Movement of the plate valve 30 or 30a into the slot 26, causes the lip 24 to loosen any debris which may have been deposited from the flue 64 upon the plate valve 30 or 30a, and be discharged onto the hearth. When desired, the damper unit may be withdrawn from the fireplace through the sleeve 60.

If the front Wall 61 of the fireplace 62 is not deep enough to accommodate the fireplace damper unit 10, the sleeve 60 is slanted so as to extend upwardly or downwardly through the front wall 61 and flue 64, thereby accommodating the damper unit 10 to the fireplace 62.

Where the fireplace damper unit 10 carrying the pull cords 40 and 44 is employed and there is a picture hanging from the front wall 61 of the fireplace 62 which covers the sleeve 60, there is provided two flexible tubes which are attached at the upper ends over the openings 41 and 45 in the cross-piece 27 and depend below the bottom of the picture, such tubes housing the cords 40 and 44.

The thus described fireplace damper assembly possesses the advantages in that it may be easily insertable in place in the fireplace, and easily withdrawn for purposes of replacement or repair; it is self-cleaning; it provides a positive damper control; and it, when in use, never comes into direct contact with fumes, soot, or extreme heat, and hence, shows little wear and tear after long periods of use. In addition, it may be made adjustable in both width and depth and hence, requires a lesser inventory; and it may be constructed of lighter metals, such as stainless steel.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fireplace damper assembly, a fireplace damper unit comprising an elongated open frame having upstanding side lmembers and an upstanding end member extending between and secured to the complemental rear ends of said side members, a ledge inwardly of and extending along each of said side members, said ledges extending toward each other, an apron bridging the ledges and extending from the complemental front ends of said side members and terminating at a point spaced from said end member and secured to said side members, a downwardly and outwardly-sloping lip extending along and depending from the terminating end of said apron, the lower end of said lip being contiguous to and spaced from said ledges and forming with said ledges a slot, the part of said frame defined by said lip, said end member and the adjacent portions of said ledges forming an opening adapted to conform to that of a flue in a fireplace, a fiat plate valve mounted in said frame for sliding movement along said ledges between a position wholly concealed below said apron and inwardly in said means embodies a backing rising from the end of said valve inwardly of said slot and actuating means operatively connected to said backing for eifecting the movement of said valve between the respective positions.

4. The combination with a fireplace having a hearth, a front wall rising from said hearth, and a flue behind said front wall, of a fireplace damper assembly comprising a horizontally-disposed sleeve fixedly-mounted in and removable from said front wall, and a fireplace damper unit insertable through said sleeve to a position extending transversely across said flue and withdrawable out of said sleeve from the aforesaid position, said damper unit comprising an elongated open frame having upstanding side members and an upstanding end member extending between and secured to the complemental rear ends of said side members, a ledge inwardly of and extending along each of said side members, said ledges facing each other, an apron bridging the ledges and extending from the complemental front ends of said side members and terminating at a point spaced from said end member and secured to said side members, a downwardly and outwardly-sloping lip extending along and depending from the terminating end of said apron, the lower end of said lip being contiguous to and spaced from said ledges and forming with said ledges a slot, the part of said frame defined by said lip, said end member, and the adjacent portions of said ledges forming an opening conforming to that of said flue, a fiat plate valve mounted in said frame for sliding movement along said ledges between a position wholly concealed below said apron and inwardly of said slot and out of closing relation with respect to said opening and a position projected out of said slot and beyond said apron and into closing relation with respect to said opening, and means operatively connected to said valve for moving said valve between the aforesaid positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 926,266 6/1909 Livesey 126-288 1,213,173 1/1917 Evans 126-288 X 2,196,934 4/1940 Morgan 126-288 X JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A FIREPLACE DAMPER ASSEMBLY, A FIREPLACE DAMPER UNIT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED OPEN FRAME HAVING UPSTANDING SIDE MEMBERS AND AN UPSTANDING END MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN AND SECURED TO THE COMPLEMENTAL REAR ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, A LEDGE INWARDLY OF AND EXTENDING ALONG EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID LEDGES EXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER, AN APRON BRIDGING THE LEDGES AND EXTENDING FROM THE COMPLEMENTAL FRONT ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND TERMINATING AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID END MEMBER AND SECURED TO SAID SIDE MEMBERS, A DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY-SLOPING LIP EXTENDING ALONG AND DEPENDING FROM THE TERMINATING END OF SAID APRON, THE LOWER END OF SAID LIP BEING CONTIGUOUS TO AND SPACED FROM SAID LEDGES AND FORMING WITH SAID LEDGES A SLOT, THE PART OF SAID FRAME DEFINED BY SAID LIP, SAID END MEMBER AND THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID LEDGES FORMING AN OPENING ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THAT OF A FUE IN A FIREPLACE, A FLAT PLATE VALVE MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ALONG SAID LEDGES BETWEEN A POSITION WHOLLY CONCEALED BELOW SAID APRON AND INWARDLY OF SAID SLOT AND OUT OF CLOSING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPENING, AND A POSITION PROJECTED OUT OF SAID SLOT AND BEYOND SAID APRON AND IN CLOSING RELATION WITH RESPECTIVE TO SAID OPENING, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE FOR MOVING SAID VALVE BETWEEN THE AFORESAID POSITIONS. 